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Monday, July 8, 2013

POPLARVILLE - Students who completed the Pearl River Community College barbering and cosmetology programs last month received their diplomas Monday, July 1, in a special graduation ceremony. PRCC President Dr. William Lewis presented the diplomas to the graduates. “I want to say congratulations to you for what you’ve accomplished,” he said. “You go into a challenging world, there’s no question about that. You have an opportunity to make a difference, not only with the skills you have but as a citizen.” The 11-month programs end in June, meaning the students were not eligible to participate in PRCC’s graduation ceremony in May. The special ceremony was held in Malone Chapel on the Poplarville campus. “It warms my heart each time I attend an occasion such as this,” said Sondra Clark, executive director of the Missisisppi State Board of Barbering Examiners. Barbers and cosmetologists do more than cut and style hair, often serving as informal counselors and advisers to their clients, she said. The graduates are eligible for state licensing, a requirement for working in their chosen fields. Barbering graduates are Demetris Julieus Fairley, Matthew Lamont Perkins and Ronald Shorts, all of Hattiesburg; Vantasia Cooley and Alethea R. Jarvis, both of Poplarville; Da’Quain Devin Damon Gilmore and Jenna Linette Thompson, both of Picayune and Olando Dantrey Marsaw of McComb. Julia Anglin and Ray McGill, both of Picayune, graduated as barbering instructors. Cosmetology students graduating with high honors were Racquel Ann Brekeen of Carriere, Hannah Elizabeth Davis and Jennifer Leah Dedeaux, both of Poplarville, and Sarah Chyanne Reid of Hattiesburg. Graduating with honors were Felicia Leigh Bilbo of Carriere, Olivia Josephine Dawsey of Pearlington, Constance Alisha Dedeaux of Wiggins, Ashley Elizabeth Ford of Lumberton, Shelbie Lynn McBeth of Carriere, Marie Miley of Poplarville and Crystal Darlene Smith of Poplarville. Also graduating were Amber Christine Gault of Carriere and Emily Josephine Ott of Poplarville. Barbering instructor is Ola Carpenter. Michelle Patterson is the cosmetology instructor.

Pearl River Community College barbering students received their diplomas in a special graduation ceremony Monday, July 1, at Malone Chapel in Poplarville. They are, front row, from left, Jenna Linette Thompson and Julia Anglin, both of Picayune; Alethea R. Jarvis of Poplarville; back row, Olando Dantrey Marsaw of McComb, Ronald Shorts, Matthew Lamont Perkins and Demetris Julieus Fairley, all of Hattiesburg; and Vantasia Cooley of Poplarville. Anglin and Ray McGill of Picayune (not pictured) graduated as barbering instructors. Also not pictured is barbering graduate Da’Quain Devein Damon Gilmore of Picayune.PRCC Public Relations photo

Cosmetology students at Pearl River Community College received their diplomas Monday, July 1, in a special graduation ceremony at Malone Chapel in Poplarville. They are, from left, Hannah Elizabeth Davis, Emily Josephine Ott and Crystal Darlene Smith, all of Poplarville; Constance Alisha Dedeaux of Wiggins, Felicia Leigh Bilbo and Racquel Ann Breeken, both of Carriere, Olivia Josephine Dawsey of Pearlington, Jennifer Leah Dedeaux of Poplarville and Shelbie Lynn McBeth of Carriere. Not pictured are Ashley Elizabeth Ford of Lumberton, Amber Christine Gault of Carriere, Marie Miley of Poplarville and Sarah Chyanne Reid of Hattiesburg.PRCC Public Relations photo

HATTIESBURG - A new $450,000 Mississippi Department of Transportation grant will make Pearl River Community College’s Poplarville campus just a little easier to navigate for students and alumni who visit the campus.“The grant is basically going to help make our campus a bit safer for pedestrians that come to visit us,” said PRCC President William Lewis. “One of our goals has been to enhance our grounds. This will help us expand our courtyard area.”The money, awarded by the MDOT via a federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant, will be used to enhance the commons area right in the heart of the campus. That means extending the campus’s courtyard area near Crosby Hall, while adding more landscaping, lighting and seating.There also will be a pedestrian walkway from new parking areas currently under construction to the center of campus.Southern Transportation Commissioner Tom King presented the check to Lewis on Thursday at the Woodall Advanced Technology Center in Hattiesburg.The grant is an 80-20 match, with PRCC adding around $110,000 to the project. Construction will begin in about six months. Dr. Lewis said the funds come from the school’s capital improvement funds, provided by the county support, and not general operational funds. “In presenting this funding to Pearl River Community College, we are showing our support for the staff and students who call this community college home,” said King. “This roadway upgrade will greatly enhance the experience of traveling through campus, whether by vehicle or by foot and bicycle. We are proud to partner with the school on this important project.”

“A lot of these schools are trying to get vehicle traffic out of the middle of their campuses,” explained King, calling it a “safety issue.” “We’re just happy to be able to award the funding to them.”

PHOTO CAPTION:HATTIESBURG – Southern Transportation Commissioner Tom King presented a $450,000 check to Pearl River Community College President Dr. William Lewis Thursday, June 27, at PRCC's Woodall Advanced Technology Center. The money, awarded by the Mississippi Department of Transportation via a federal Transportation Alternatives grant, will be used to enhance and pedestrian common areas on the Poplarville campus. On hand for the presentation were, from left, Dr. Adam Breerwood, PRCC vice president for the Poplarville campus; H.R. Nobles of Petal, a member of the PRCC board of trustees; Dr. Lewis, Mr. King, Lee Bell, director of the Woodall Center; and Dr. Cecil Burt, PRCC vice president for Forrest County operations.